Bob Hemminger's Copy of Let's Boogie! by James Stevenson

For those keeping score, this is the second copy we have seen on this blog of the cartoon collection Let's Boogie! (1978) by James Stevenson personalized by the artist for a single person, Bob Hemminger, with an included sketch. This one from Space Cadets Collection reportedly comes out of the estate of comics historian Bill Bush, as did the Charles Saxon book in yesterday's post also made out to Hemminger. We have also seen a book from Edward Koren dedicated to the same individual with a superb drawing. It's possible, then, that Hemminger collected these by mail, sending a book (or two?) and requesting a signature and drawing from the artist, but there are other possibilities. Brilliant. 

Space Cadets, I may have mentioned yesterday, is selling much or all of its inventory for 25% off this weekend only. So while this very loose self-portrait may not be the best Stevenson drawing I've seen in one of his books, the price is right.

James Stevenson
eBay listing accessed November 28, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304950122737?itmmeta=01KB33A6Q44BNWMN4KCJD31CK7&hash=item47007198f1:g:v8QAAOSw6oJkUcpI

James Stevenson
eBay item description

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Bob Hemminger's Copy of One Man's Fancy by Charles Saxon

Online discounts tend to get serious on Thanksgiving Day weekend as sellers try to move as much inventory as they can before Christmas. Something similar happens in stores with Black Friday deals. And this year both consumers and retailers have increased cause for anxiety about the uncertain economy.

Behold then a signed copy of Charles Saxon's 1977 cartoon collection One Man's Fancy, which I've been following with interest for more than a year, suddenly reduced in price from $75 to $56.25, a 25% discount—though perhaps it was priced just a little lower one year ago. The seller, Space Cadets Collection, lowered the cost of many if not all of its listings on the auction site eBay.

The book's front cover illustrates idyllic behavior in business attire; the back cover does the same but without the attire.

This copy is dedicated to one Bob Hemminger by the artist. Saxon didn't typically add drawings to his inscriptions, but he did here.

The copyright page demonstrates how important The New Yorker is to the artist's oeuvre.

Here's the listing as it stood on Thanksgiving Day:

Charles Saxon
eBay listing accessed November 27, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304846112624?_skw=yorker&itmmeta=01KB30REVFMCB5HPWJCRY2V0AD&hash=item46fa3e8770:g:I9sAAOSwamVkBrdS

Charles Saxon
eBay item description

Did I mention that after a year of eying this one from afar, I went and took the bait?

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Bumming a Greeting from James Stevenson

One of the late James Stevenson's stock characters, an unshaven tramp, offers a friendly wave of greeting in a presentation copy of Let's Boogie! The New Yorker cartoonist's collection was signed and inscribed to Bob Hemminger with the original drawing in 1982, four years after the collection's publication. Today this copy is available from History for Sale in the $450-$500 range. What an irony, though, that a couple of the artist's original published New Yorker cartoons have sold for considerably less than this book's asking price, as we've noted here in the days since Mr. Stevenson's passing.

Inscribed "For Bob Hemminger—
Best wishes—
Jim Stevenson
                 1982"

James Stevenson
Let's Boogie!, 1978

James Stevenson
Title page, Let's Boogie!, 1978

History for Sale listing as of February 28, 2017

http://www.historyforsale.com/james-stevenson-inscribed-original-art-signed-1982/dc9062

November 29, 2025 Update:  The book was published in 1978, not 1982. I have corrected the post accordingly.

Note:  To continue to celebrate the life and work of the late James Stevenson, I would like to hear from readers with original book drawings like this one, or other artwork and memorabilia.


Quick Links to Attempted Bloggery's Archives
James Stevenson (1929-2017)
Signed books with original drawings

Another book signed to Bob Hemminger from Edward Koren

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Vermont Cartoonist Laureate: The Bookish Ed Koren

Today the New Yorker's Edward Koren will be appointed Vermont's second Cartoonist Laureate for a three year term. He succeeds the state's first Cartoonist Laureate James Kochalka. Good move, Vermont.

http://www.cartoonstudies.org/

Reader and contributor David from Manhattan recognized Ed Koren's gifts even before the State of Vermont did. Here he provides Attempted Bloggery with a splendid collection of scans of original drawings made by Mr. Koren in various cartoon books over the years.

We lead off with an unusual 1997 inscription to the family of poet Gregory Orr:

Edward Koren

Country drawing inscribed "Summer 1997/Brookfield/For the Orrs/Risha-Greg-Eliza-Sophie/From the Korens/Curtis-Ben-Ed-Katmandu"

in Quality Time: Parenting, Progeny, and Pets. New York: Villard Books, 1995.

Bookseller Image
Quality Time: Parenting, Progeny, and Pets. New York: Villard Books, 1995. 

Bookseller Image 

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=10680374015&searchurl=amp%2525253bsgnd%3Don%26amp%3Bamp%2525253bx%3D-926%26amp%3Bamp%2525253by%3D- 

Here's an outstanding drawing in "Well, There's Your Problem" (1980):

Edward Koren, Drawing inscribed "For Bob Hemminger from Edward Koren" in "Well, There's Your Problem."  New York:  Pantheon, 1980.

Last, we have four wonderful copies of Caution:  Small Ensembles (1983):

Edward Koren, Drawing inscribed "For Joy Weiner/From Ed Koren" in Caution:  Small Ensembles.  New York:  Pantheon, 1983.

Edward Koren, Drawing of a photographer at the New Yorker.
Inscribed "For Elise/My best/Ed Koren" in Caution:  Small Ensembles.  New York:  Pantheon, 1983.

Sabele and Richard Gray were married in 1984. What could bode better for the marriage than this beautiful Koren drawing in a copy of Caution: Small Ensembles (1983)? Unfortunately, findings of the State of New York Division of Tax Appeals regarding personal income taxes for the years 1984 through 1987 and 1992 through 1994 did not go in their favor, and Richard's incarceration (for an unrelated civil contempt charge) was found to be insufficient excuse for his not appearing in tax court, as may be seen here. The couple was divorced in 2003, with a post-judgment stipulation dating to 2005. Litigation regarding Richard's unauthorized exercise of minor children's stock voting rights may be seen here and further Superior Court action regarding child support continued through 2011. The drawing has proved more resilient than the marriage and cannot be faulted for any of this.

Edward Koren, Drawing inscribed "For Sabele [Foster]and Richard [E. Gray]/June 1984/Congratulations--/Edward Koren" in Caution:  Small Ensembles. New York:  Pantheon, 1983.

Edward Koren, Drawing inscribed "For Sarah /Avec amitié/Ed" in Caution:  Small Ensembles.  New York:  Pantheon, 1983.

Note:  See more posts about Vermont Cartoonist Laureate Edward Koren here.

Other fine examples of signed books with original drawings may be seen here.

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